The NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Children and Young People with Disability in New South Wales Educational Settings is set to commence its proceedings this morning. This crucial inquiry aims to shed light on the experiences, challenges, and opportunities faced by students with disabilities within the education system.
Date: Tuesday, 23 April, 2024
Appearance time: 10.15 – 11am (AEST)
Location: Macquarie Room - Level 7, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Link for livestream: Parliamentary Inquiry landing page
Key Witnesses from Cerebral Palsy Alliance and quotes
1. Sophie Geeves - CPActive Champion Steering Committee Member and Chair of the ‘Blaze the Trail’ CPActive Working Group
A long-term CPA client, Sophie brings a unique perspective to the inquiry as a person living with disability and a disability advocate. Sophie also serves as a policy officer at the First People’s Disability Network.
Her testimony draws directly from her lived experience as a young person with cerebral palsy navigating the New South Wales education system. Her insights are invaluable in understanding the unique challenges faced by students with disabilities.
The below quote can be attributed to Sophie Geeves:
"Our focus and expertise is not in policy or legislation, but in our own lived experience – as young people with physical disabilities trying to navigate the NSW education system, having to advocate for ourselves on a daily basis and carry the extra burden of adapting to disabling processes that we face in education and wider society.
We can and should do so much more to support the next generation of young people with disabilities and set them up for positive experiences and equal and fair opportunities – and this starts with inclusive schooling."
2. Professor Iona Novak AM - Cerebral Palsy Alliance Chair of Allied Health
Professor Novak is a globally recognised clinician and cerebral palsy expert with a focus on rehabilitation, stem cell therapy and neuroplasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
She is a former Fulbright Scholar and recipient of the Elsass Prize and has authored over 80 academic studies on cerebral palsy.
The following quote can be attributed to Professor Iona Novak:
"Children with complex physical disabilities like CP often face not just a disabling physical environment, but also barriers to participation created by ignorance and rigid, hard-to-navigate educational processes. We should instead focus on attitudinal changes and environmental changes that can have a far greater impact and benefit, not just for young people with disabilities, but all students and the wider community."
A full PDF of CPA’s submission can be found via the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry’s website (submission #39)
The inquiry was established in December 2023 against the backdrop of significant changes in Australia’s disability landscape. Its dual purpose is to:
Guide the NSW Government’s response to the findings of the Disability Royal Commission.
Assist the NSW Government in navigating the policy framework outlined in the recently published National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) review.
Committee Chair Abigail Boyd stresses that the inquiry will delve into the barriers hindering safe, quality, and inclusive education. It will assess existing policies and evaluate the adequacy of resources and support available to educators and families.
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